Erne Wanderers make it four from four with convincing win over Fanad United

Erne Wanderers made it four wins from four with a fine 3-1 win over Fanad United at the Lakeside Centre on Saturday afternoon. 

Erne Wanderers 3 Fanad United 1 

The Ballyshannon outfit were dominant for large spells of the contest and led the game 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Barry Mulligan and Gearoid Gallagher.

After the interval, Diarmaid Slevin’s side continued to threaten the Fanad goal and stretched their lead to three with an 80th minute header from Josh Ritchie. Fanad pulled a consolation goal back in the closing stages through a brilliant strike from Daibhid Lynch. 

Fanad United, who lost out to Erne Wanderers at the weekend. 

The hosts started this encounter the brightest, creating two openings in the first couple of minutes both through Barry Mulligan. The first of these came two minutes in when he met an Adam Glone corner but his header went just wide before the midfielder struck a good effort from outside the box but Brian Gallagher saved well to deny him.

It was third time lucky for Mulligan, however, as he opened his side’s account with a ninth-minute strike. Mulligan placed a well-hit shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to put the home side ahead.

On 24 minutes, Erne Wanderers doubled their advantage through midfielder Gearoid Gallagher. Gallagher managed to block an attempted clearance from the Fanad defence to leave himself through on goal before burying the ball past Gallagher in the Fanad net. 

The visitors had an opportunity to hit back straight from the restart. The ball fell nicely to Cormac Sweeney on the edge of the penalty area but his effort fizzed just wide of the post. 

Fanad came out in the second period in search of a goal to bring them back into the contest though, it looked more likely that the hosts would increase their lead rather than the away outfit narrowing it. 

On the hour mark, Gearoid Gallagher pounced on a mix-up at the back to leave him through on goal only to see his attempt scrape past the post. 

Five minutes later, Gallagher was involved again as he played a superb ball to play Ryan Barrett through but his chipped attempt landed over the upright. 

In the 80th minute, Diarmaid Slevin’s side did make it three. A free kick from Barry Mulligan was well blocked by the wall but the ball landed to Josh Ritchie who headed the ball over Brian Gallagher. 

Five minutes later, the visitors pulled one back. Daibhid Lynch struck a brilliant effort from 30 metres out and it went past Shaun O’Boyle into the bottom corner of the net. 

This was only to be a consolation goal however, as referee Seamus McRory called an end to proceedings to leave the hosts unbeaten to date in the Third Division. 

Erne Wanderers: Shaun O’Boyle; Josh Ritchie, Ryan McKenna, Donal O’Reilly (Aaron Keeney, 80), Ryan Barrett (David Keels, 72), David Dolan (Shane Brady, 80), Barry Mulligan, Gearoid Gallagher, Ceallach Mitchell, Adam McGlone, Jakub Naperski (J.C McGarrigle, 55). 

Fanad United: Brian Gallagher; Caolan McElwaine (Keelan Kerr, 55), Patrick Moffet, Darren Lynch, Ethan Ferry, Alex Gartosski (Ben Orsi, 55), Daibhid Lynch, Cormac Sweeney, Ciaran McElwaine (Caolan Gibbons, 70), Dylan McBride, Dylan McGlone. 

Referee: Seamus McRory.